Range and deflection computer.



A. BARR & W. STROUD. RANGE AND DEFLECTION COMPUTER.

, APPLICATION FILED vac. an, 1910.

Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. BARR &-w. STROU D.

"RANGE AND DEFLECTION COMPUTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-30,1910.v

Patented July 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

and direction of the velocity oi the .AEJHIBALD BARR AI LAND. i

' nomination filed lLw which. we ha naii ent in Greznx 5 win January 15, 1910,) io'wmg is a spec fication.

i nsnsi method sei t' i: of giins in and in h; is necessary not oniv to know therange Oi the enemy hut-to kninv n'eii "bile iaggi'iihiuie reiativeh, to the gnn-piatforin so thai L3 in gnnsin'ht may he set to correspond to 1" prohnbieposition of: the tax. sher at time subsequent to that at which the sight; are set. In other words, it is necessary, far as possible, to predict the position of i target a frac"on of a minute in mivane This may he (ione'hy marking off the hear ing and the range offehe target 21 eqnai intervais oi time upon a chart or plotting tahie furnishedwith a pivoted arm moving over an angle scale-marked with the hearings, sueh arm being provided with a ni'iiform i'ann'o-seaie (Whose zero is at the center rotation}. In this way the hearing and the ray of the target being known say, at qnarter-n'limite intervais, the. nm on of the target reiaiivei to the gnwnlaiiorin can he represented anri the res he einpioyeei for ])li1l')OSGS of predie 2' v The object of our invention is to provide nleaz'ls for enahiingi; indications to be made (and, if desired, recorded upon surface) of the position of a distant object 1 1% re to a station, under conditions where no range and hearing of the object rein Mei the station are aseertainahie at she shation, and when the object or the station is in metion, or when both are in motion, to enable a progressive indication or a series ofsueh il'ldieations to he made and reeordea, in order that the probable position of bi1e ohjec't relative to the station at a subsequent an? e irrnsmirm. oneseow,

' mmmss no, i

, may he define 'r this ;i n being p niiining reqnire .ng'of ow we sights and. ii-he n1 invention in apg the station on iahe urrhe table, or to impart to the poon indicator either the hearing or the distance motion, While impart 9* to the tahie the eoinpiementarjy motion required 0 proinee the required movement, and further, $.10 efie *i: che reqniredi motions by antoinaeie sen -anto1naie actuation v In carrying this invention into practice a visnai or hnninons indication is prod'neeci.

Some examples of construction, emhoiiyk 1n the ,...i't ,1res of our i mention, Wlii new oeseriheo.

In on IOPIII of apparaius "particularly applieahie for use ata fortress ihe apparatus may comprise, ("1) a range transmitter. and

receiver, (2) a hearing transmitter and rehereinafter deserihed in accordance with the range and bearing of the enemy, and i) a table or chars upon'the surface of which the image of a inminons or opaque mark or indiea eion formed. by theoptieai. device is projected.

The projector consists essentiaily of an iihnninated cross-wire, hole, or other mark, and a ions so disposed with reference to. the table that an image of the mark is projeeteei on. the table. By suitahie motions of the mark, or the iens, or of both, the image on the table can be shifted so as to correspond to the shift in bearingand range of the target. Reflectors may, if desired, be

used in connection with the projector and in aciapted use the specification of our Patent No. 1009013,-

dated 14th November, 1911, but it is to be understood'that we do not confine ourselves to instruments of this class since almost any type of indicating apparatus (whether of the step-by-step type or not) can be employed as a component part of our complete apparatus. However, for brevity we shall assume that an electrical stepby-step transmitter is employed for sending signals 0t changes in range to' a corresponding stepby-step receiver, and that a second step-bystep transmitter is simultaneously employed for sending signals of changes in bearing to a corresponding step-by-step receiver. supposed in the first instance that these two receivers are powerful enough to operate the projector mechanically and sufficiently rapid in action to follow the motions of their respective "transmitters. In this case the range transmitter T is electrically connected to a range receiver R which for example, may be of the type described in the specification of our prior Patent Number 1,009,013, dated November 14, .1911, associated with mechanism by means of which the actuation of the range receiver, R mechanically opcrates the projector so as to produce a radial motion of the image of the mark on the table to and from the axis A, the gearing being such that (with or without the intervention of a cam or other rectifying gear) a change of range of 100 yards shall corrc- -spo-nd to a radial motion of the image on the table of a constant amount. This radial motion of the image of the mark can be produced in a large variety of ways, for-examplc, the mark may be fixed radially and the lens may be moved radiallyby the actuation of the range receiver or the lens may be fixed radially, and the markmay be moved radially by the actuation of the range re-' ceiver R or both lens and mark may be simultaneously moved radially by the actu ation of the range receiver R or again, the lens and mark may be fixed radially and a reflector may be interposed in the path of the beam of light coming from the mark, and this reflector may be rotated by the actuation of the range receiver R sons to produce the radial motion of the image of the mark. If, as the result of spotting observations or otherwise, it is found that the range requires to be altered by a specified amount, we may do this by radially shifting the mark to the appropriate extent by hand,

which-is geared to the projector so as to produce rotation about the axis A, the gearing being such that a change of bearing of 1 corresponds to a rotation of the projector through 1 and in the appropriate sense. It will be understood that the projector or its optical axis is thus moved in two dimensions, namely, first radially by the range receiver R and secondly, about the axis A, (or azimuthally) by the bearing receiver R Thus, if the observations of) the range and bearing are correct and are correctly transmitted to the projector, the image of the mark-upon the table will indicate the location of the target relatively to the gun-plat- 1 which We mean that we employ at the plotting table the cooperation of an observer, who, without reading the transmitted range, or bearing, can adjust either the radial or azimuthal positions of the projector, or both, so that these positions are in conformity with the transmitted range and hearing by means of a suitable visual signal, 6. 9., to take the case of the bearings receiver and employing the step-by-step type of receiver,

ing of three elements 1, 2, 3, in which the we may provide a difl'ercntial gear consist- 1 algebra-ical sum of the motions of 1 and 3 is communicated to the element 2. Associated with this differential gear there may be a drum which is moved directly by the motion of the element 2, the element 1 being connected to the bearings receiver R (which is driven electrically by the bearings transmitter T and the element 3 being adjustable by hand by means ofgearing which is mechanically connected to the apparatus which rotates the projector azimuthally. In this way the drum is Worked simultanrrrvsly or separately by the transmitter and handadjuster so that we may arrange that the motion of the transmitter T through the operation of the receiver, It is (so far as the drum is concerned) annulled by the motion of the hand-adjustment. Thus we can rotate one o3"? the receiver R due to operation of the transmitter if We bring the drum always to a certa n definite standard position. By

these means the motion of the handed josh ment becomes a. measure of the motion of the receiver R and therefore oi the trans1r-.i.tter T Another plan is to use the follow the pointer method, or we may use the device of following the line, both of which devices are already known.

By either of these methods we can arrange that the amount of wort: to he done by the receivers shall not be very much greater than that required for the transmission of visual signals, and. thus. we are enabled to use a small receiver capable of following very rapid steps made by thetransmitter.

\Ve can, however, ar rings the apparatus so that the observer can setthe projector to the correct bearing without the provision of any mechanical connection between the hearing receiver and the projector. In t iis case we may suppose the bearing receiver to he mounted above the table and arrange that this receiver shall rotate a reflector Is. about an approximately vertical axis. The pro jector will now be arranged so as to be capabio of rotation about theaxis A, and rigidly attached to the projector we may provide a lamp and suitably placed lens or lenses andv reflector or" reflectors so that an image of the lamp is, after reflection from K, projccted on the table. This image we shall call the hearing image. We may next provide a mark rigidly attached to the projector and, say, just over the table, and so dispose the refl ectors and. lenses that, when the projector is correctly adjusted for bearing, the bearing image falls upon this mark. It now the bearing receiver produces a rotation of the reflector K the bearing image will no longer fall upon the mark, hutby rotating the projector We can bring the image upon the mark again, in which case the projector will. be correctly set with reference to the bearing" receiver. V. e may still further simplify the operation ot' using the instrument by ar ranging that the projector is correctly set with reference to the hearing receiver when the hearing image is brought into contact With the-target image. in this case, the bearing image may he a longradial line, and the target image may consist of two int rsecting lines so that the projector maybe correctly set by rotation about the axis A until the radial hearing line passes through the point of intersection of these lines. To avoid the necessity of providing a long radial lineas hearing image we may pro Vide a short radial lino. and arrange the gear to move the hearing image toward or from the center of the table. Thus, for example, we may provide a mechanical ffill' to .he reflectors attached to the to this invention.

. ings a cross upon the 2:. eating the ta line mdicat" r t ime .motions of the 1g t on able arm or the pro short radial line may moved a by and radially so s 1'. enter ot' the tar ion poi ree lines gives location of the For use on hat ships instead of in fortresses we may provide a magnetic or gyrosco ic compass, say, t the center of the ta ls may be mounted so to be capable rotation about an. axis coincident with the axis A aforesaid. The table may he provided with a mark or lulohor-linc so that it may he turned by hand {or controlled. by the composition with reference to the compass.

in order our invention may erly understood we have hereto appended two sheets of drawings in the several figures of which corresponding parts where these occur are marked with COITQSPGHdlDg letters of reference.

Figure 1 is an elevation partl in section of an instrument constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating a modification which may he made in the instrument shown at Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are elevations each illustrating an instrument of modified construction. 7 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. '8 is a front elevation. Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating an instrument constructed ac cording to a further modification of this invention. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a part of the mechanism of the instrument illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. :Ll. is plan view of a tion with instruments constructed according Fig. 12 illustrates a. series of markings to he hereinafter JTEL QI'IMl lJO.

ln'all the figures A A represents the axis of rotation, R a range receiver, ll? a bearreccrver, ll a la '1. l l lil worm and worm whecl and if llQZiIb leads.

In all cases the lamp may be selected and so adjusted in its socket that two portions of theiinzzge oi the incandescent filament in soct and this point of intersection may is taken indicating the target.

l ig. 1 represents an automatic arrangement for moving the spot of light radially and :uiimuthally. The bearings receiver R by means of a worm E and Worm-Wheel E rotates the frame about A 1%.. The range receiver lit is mounted on the frame and is connected loy flexible 35 to distant propscale adapted for use in conjuno;

range-transmitter T. G is a vertical tube" lens being chosen so as to form an image of the lamp on the table I. This projector is translated bodily to and from the axis AA by means of a screw J connected to the shaft of R .Fig. 2 shows an alternative arrangement in which D is fixed at a certain radial distance from A A while the lens I-I alone is operated by the range-receiving mechanism. D and H are supposed to be mounted to a frame capable of being rotated about A A just as shown in Fig. 1. table is .not shown.

Fig. 3 shows -a-plan of the mechanism for operating the lens H shown in Fig. 2.

In the two methods so far-illustrated the bearings receiver has to rotate a frame possessing considerable inertia and consequently unless the bearings receiver is very powerful and the rate of change of bearings comparatively slow, there will be a likelihood of the receiver missing step.

In Figs. 4 and 5 we have examples of methods in which the bearings receiver has next to no work to do.- It merely has to rotate a plane mirror K situated verticallyin Fig. 4 andzat to the vertical in Fig. 5. In these cases theframe is mounted in bearings or pivots T T and is turned about A A by the handle L by the operation of which the observer brings a mirror K attached to the frame into parallelism with the mirror K attached to the bearings receiver. This can readily be done by observing the image (or images) of D upon the table. If K and K are parallel there will be only one image, so that if two images are seen L must be 0 erated so as to makethese two images over ap.

In Fig. 4 the light as.- D aft-er traversing the lens M emerges (say) as a parallel beam, is reflected partly by K and partly about a pivot Q fixed to theframe. To P is attached the pulley R which is connected by bands to a frame S the outer surface of which may be formed as a complete or partial pulley which carries themirror N, so

that a partial rotation of the pulley, R, will cause a partial rotation of the mirror, N. The radius of S is made twice that of R which is the condition necessary tobe satisfied so as to give a uniform range-scale upon the table.

Fig. 5 diflers from Fig. 4: (1) in having In this figure the toothed wheels W and W the mirrors K, K inclined at 45 to the vertical (2) in having the lamp D and lens H inclosed in a central tube (3) in having R fixed to the table and in communicating the motion of its shaft by a flexible couplipg to the toothed wheel U which gears into 1 operating the nut O by means of the screw J. R and S are operated as shown and described under Fig. 4. 7

Fig. 6 shows a mechanical method (in place oftheoptical method of two mirrors described under Figs. ,4 and 5) for bringing 4 the frame into conformity with the bearings indication. R .throllgh a worm E and wheel E? operates one element 1 of a differential gear, the other element 3 of which is operated by" the, handle L through the diate element 2 of the differential gear is atttached to the drum X which has a mark Y upon it. If new the bearings receiver It? causes 1 t0 rotate, the drum'X will rotate through half the angle but by rotating the handle L we can bringback the drum to its original position with the mark Y opposite the fixed index Z. Thus the rotation of the handle L may be made'to wipe out the effect-of the operation of the bearings receiver and thus becomes a measure of the indication of the latter. The gearing is such that 1 rotation of L about A A corresponds to 1 alteration in the bearing.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show (in greater detail) side elevation, front elevation and plan of a form of plotting table working automatically in which the inertia of thep'arts moving around the axis A A is considerably reduced. All the parts are arranged close to. the axis A A except the single mirror N which is fixed except for azimuthal motion, the range-indicating mirror being K As shown in Fig. 8 two bearings receivers R R are used so as to double the power available for producing rotation about the axis A A. The range-receiver R is stationary and the motion of its shaft is communicated by a flexible oouplingto the toothed wheel U gearing with the toothed wheel U which operates a nut O.

.Fig. 10 shows on a larger scale the means whereby the nut O rotates the mirror K so as to give a uniform range-scale upon the table. The nut O has a pm a which gears into a short slot Z) in the arm 1? whose pivot is Q. AttachecLto the arm P is a part of an internal toothed wheel P which gears into The intermea part of a wheel P fastened'to the arm I? whose pivot is Q}. The point Q is arranged to be midway between Q, and P, the pitch line of P and P respectively, so thatas P is rotated through a certainangle P is rotated thereby through half the angle. The mirror K (Fig. 7) is attached to P. Onthe arm which supports the mirrorll is a screw A operating upon an arm B attached intemietl for the nent of the n the form of scale .g the predicted rm anrl ti clefiection'i'go silo-wee. This scale nieele of celluloid or other trans parent materiai has two redial scales 'of ranges, orgin fromithe point C which corrcso-Ji cls to Zero range. Concentric with C is a metal ring Mid at the other end of the scale a handle knob G On the table I {Fig 7) concentric with the axis A A. is a stud 11 which is made to fit the aperture in C wig. .1). Tense this scale We place it upon the table so that can swing around 6 as at center and We proceeri to mark upon the table the osition of the target at equal intervals of time as shown by the position of the luminous imeg Let p (Fig. 12} "be one such position, 10 a. later position say, after a, quarter of a minute then we predict that the target will he at yr after a lapse of another quarter of a minute. To read oil. the of 2. .weswii'xg eronnci the scale shown if 11 tili p falls "antler one of the two .rariiwl lines inelicoting the range and from its position on this sceie the range can be read oft. j

In Fig. 11 there will be seen to the right of the right redial iincs series of six iines almost s'traig htsncl nearly parallel to the radial line itself but with it slight con- Yergence somewlmt shown. iines would be strictly pi: eliel to the radial line if the time of flight of the shot were strictly tzrop ortional to the range, but as the 'ClYfi of flight increases more rapidly than ve range it is necessary to make the lines converge to the requisite einoiint es the range increases. The first lees may be regarded as the 16 knot line th second. the 20 knot i'irl so on. Sciniierly the le' t the lcift hand radial line is it set of six iiRE-S the exact counterpart of those just described...

'io read oi? the appropriate deflection We will suppose'that the scale shown in Fig. 2% site on the plotting tubie, that g '9 two successive plots and (1" the crcdic-er' plot. W's swing around. the scale tili right radial line ielis Upon 1 end We e oil the pretiictetl range as 75013 th position of 1 among the deflection lines gives the exanmle 36 knots.

' target inming' to i. i i? the image haul been in c shoel-ci have used the lines are crimstructcti particular set of range teizilcs cor-r to :1. particular gum in ti EECL'ZSUPPUSQ the shot cover 7000 yards, then relative velocity of i0 knots second right angles to th the shot would fall yarcls Wro y if ;tion correction weie i ppose new the sceie of the plot-- table he inches per 1000 yards then 56 yards Wiil correspond to 0.11 on the piotting and at the 7000 yards mark on the sonic the 10 knot deflection line should he v.11" lisiu i -"oln the Teri-r1 line. The hoot line i .22 dissent and so 1n he same way these distances can he celculetecl for other ranges.

it Wlll thus be that 2, set of clefiection hue. tahie for one type of g! For i type oi: We shall re re a scale or may opt the proenly one scale c of the deflection scale 0 is upon he rentisl relative velocity of target will be give from the iine-interveis the posi 1e chart. 7 invention is equally eppiie separates fertile electricei trnsinission and reception of the changes in and beerin is replaced by mechanical connections. T he apparatus can also he used. b providing means for moving the projector oy'hend in accordance Wit. the ascertained range unclheuring which may have been communicated to the operator by vis or or audible signals.

mt We {lo clairn as our inventie gicsire to secure by Lott 's Patent, is.

i. A table in 11g 21. 'orfece w en one point reg) "csen.

face an iron. mated with l'oililS 3 between the ime 'e nnri ier producing the image two distinct t1 us. one an azimuthal motion sorre spending to change of hearing, the other :1. reciini motion proportional to change of magic each in relation to an "object with rei erence to the'ztforesaici point.

33. A table having a surf-Lice, u cietnm position on the surface representing a stiticn servatiofl.

comprising an oscillatory mirror, means for imparting a motion to .?t l;1e mirror to produce a movement of the image radially from the datum position and proportional to the change of range of an object in relation to the Station of observation, and means for effecting a rotary movement about the datum position between the image and the surface corresponding to the change of bearing of the object in relation to the station of ob- 4, A table having a surface, a datum position on the surface representing a station of observation, in combination with a source oflight and means for producing'an image of the source of light uponthe said surface comprising an oscillatory mirror, means for imparting a motion to the mirror to produce a movement of 4 he image radially from the datum position and proportional. to the change of range of an object in relation to light and means for producing an image of the source of light, a mirror set to revolve about an axis perpendicular to the surface and passing through the datum position, upon which mirror the rays forming the image are projected and by which they are reflected, a second mirror mounted at a distance from the axis and arranged to reflect the image upon the aforesaid surface, one of the mirrors being mounted to oscillate so as to produce a movement of the image radially from the datum position, means for imparting an oscillatory motion to that one mirror proportional to the change of'range of an object in relation to the station of observation, and means for effectinga rotary movement about the datum position between the image and the surface corresponding to the change of bearing of the object in relation to the station of observation.

6. A table having a surface, a datum position on the surface representing a station of observation, in combination with a source, of light and means for producing an image of the source of light, a mirror set to revolve about an axis perpendicular to the surface and passing through the datum position upon .which mirror'the rays forming the image ai'e projected and by which they are refiected, a second mirror mounted at a dis tance from the axis and arranged to reflect change of bearing of the objectin relation to the station of observation.

7. A table having a surface, a datum position on thesurface representing a station of observation,in combination with a source of light and means for producing an image of a source of light, an oscillatory mirror set to revolve about an axis ..rpendiu:ular to the surface and passing through the datum position upon which mirror the rays forming the image are projected and by which they are reflected, a second mirror mounted at a distance from the axis and arranged to re fleet the image upon the aforesaid surface, means for imparting an oscillatory motion to the oscillatory mirror proportional to the change of range of an object in relation to the station of observation, and means for effecting a rotary movement about the datum position between the image and the surface corresponding to the change of bearing of the object in relation to the station of observation. I

8. A table having a surface,,a datum position on the surface representing a station of observation, in combination with a source of light and means for producing-an image of the source of light, an oscillatory mirror set to revolve about an axis perpendicular to the surface and passing through the datum position upon which mirror the rays forming the image are projected and by which they are reflected, a second mirror mounted at a distance from the axis and arranged to reflect the image upon the aforesaid surface, means for imparting an oscillatory motion change of range of an object in relation to the station of observation, and means for effecting a rotary movement of the two mirrors about the axis passing through the datum position and perpendicular to the suface, corresponding to the change of bearing of theobject in relation to the station of observation.

9. A table having a surface and a datum position on the surface representing a station of observation, an optical projector mo nted with its axis perpendicular to the plane of the surface and passing through the datum position, in combination with means for projecting an image of a mark produced by the projector upon the aforesaid sufface, assoeiated with means for efnames to this epecifieation in the presence fecting a movement between the lmage and of two subscribmg vyltnesses. the sugface, consisting of two motions corre- ARGHIBALI) BARR. spondlng to the ch nge of beanng nd prov 5 ortional to the change of range of Zn 6bfect W U 1n relation to the aforehaid station of obser- Witnesses: *1 vatiom v OLIVER HAYWARD PORTER,

In testimony whereof We have signed our HAROLD D'RINKWATER JACKSON. 

